Kailua dismantles Aiea to reach Division I semifinals

Greg Yamamoto | SL

This time around the Surfers left no doubt.

Kailua rode a four touchdown performance from Micah Sua and a dominating performance from its defense to a 35-7 win over Aiea in the quarterfinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I Football Championships, in stark contrast to the two teams' last meeting, a 21-19 nail biter in the OIA Division I title game.

The win also marked the first time the Surfers have advanced out of the opening round since 2001, that one a 53-6 win over Waiakea.

"When I was a freshman, coach Joe knew this was the team to make it and win a (league) championship and hopefully win this state championship too," said Sua.

Sua had just four touches for the game, but made the most of each, scoring on runs of 3, 5 and 8 yards and added a 15 yard reception for another.

Surfriders' QB Isaiah Keaunui-Demello completed 20 of 29 passes for 235 yards and two scores, finding eight different receivers in the contest. His first scoring toss of the game was to slot Max Kamai, who led all pass catchers with 84 yards on the afternoon.

Aiea played the game behind the proverbial eight ball from the outset, as the opening snap was fumbled, recovered by Delton Kurahashi-Choy Foo, and converted three plays later into the game's opening points via a 48 yard pass from Keaunui-Demello to Kamai.

Two rushing scores by Sua, one at the end of the first quarter and the other in the closing minutes of the second, spotted the home team a 21-0 lead at the hafl.

Aiea finally got on the scoreboard at the midway point of the third, as Caizel Jesus-Kapesi connected with Hiki Kim Choy-Keb-Ah Lo on a 12 yard pass play to make it 21-7, but the Surfers added two scores in the final quarter to shut the door.

Sua's heroics aside, the Kailua defense played lights out, holding Na Alii to just 139 yards of total offense, with five tackles for loss, three interceptions, and four passes defended. It also held Jesus-Kapesi to just 85 yards passing, the lowest output since this same defense held him to 29 yards back on Sept. 19.

Up next for Kailua is BIIF champion Konawaena, in a game to be played a week from today at Julian Yates Field in Kealakekua.

"It's going to be a tough one," said Jonah Sua. "This week will be preparation, just to go work hard. Offense, defense got to work hard every day."